Bloomipedia
Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
Photo: Steven Lamonde via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Garlic mustard

Alliaria petiolata

Introduced in the lower 48

Garlic mustard is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 23 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.

36states
23of our state lists
110,325U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin

🚫
Regulated invasive plant in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Ohio, Virginia, Illinois, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Minnesota, Indiana, Vermont, New Hampshire and Delaware. It's on those states' official invasive plant lists (New York: Prohibited invasive species (6 NYCRR § 575.3); Pennsylvania: Class B noxious weed; Massachusetts: Prohibited plant (sale, import and propagation banned); Ohio: Invasive plant (sale and propagation prohibited); Virginia: Tier 3 noxious weed (sale and movement restricted); Illinois: Exotic weed (sale and planting prohibited); Wisconsin: Restricted invasive species; Connecticut: Prohibited invasive plant (some listings take effect on later dates; see the statute); Minnesota: Restricted noxious weed (no sale or transport); Indiana: Prohibited invasive plant (no sale, gifting or planting); Vermont: Quarantine List, Tier 3; New Hampshire: Prohibited invasive plant; Delaware: Invasive Plant List (sale and propagation prohibited)). Please don't plant or share it there. 6 NYCRR Part 575 PA noxious weed list MA Prohibited Plant List OAC 901:5-30-01 2VAC5-317-20 17 IAC 1100.30 NR 40 CGS § 22a-381d MN noxious weed list 312 IAC 18-3-25 Vermont Quarantine List NH Agr 3800 3 DE Admin. Code 806

Quick look

Alliaria petiolata, or garlic mustard, is a biennial flowering plant in the mustard family (Brassicaceae). It is native to Europe, western and central Asia, north-western Africa, Morocco, Iberia and the British Isles, north to northern Scandinavia, and east to northern Pakistan and Xinjiang in western China.

  • It belongs to the Brassicaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual, biennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 36 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In New York, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
  • In Pennsylvania, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 16,441 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #3 among the 109 flowers on our New York list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 12,546 research-grade sightings of it in Pennsylvania, ranking #1 among the 111 flowers on our Pennsylvania list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 10,680 research-grade sightings of it in Massachusetts, ranking #4 among the 110 flowers on our Massachusetts list. iNaturalist

State flower gift ideas

This one is a regulated invasive plant, so here are state flower gifts instead.

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (9,332 records)
Bloom time in each of our 23 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
New YorkIntroducedApril–May16,441
PennsylvaniaIntroducedApril–May12,546
MassachusettsIntroducedApril–May10,680
New JerseyIntroducedApril–May8,125
MarylandIntroducedApril–May7,577
OhioIntroducedApril–May7,343
VirginiaIntroducedApril–May6,920
IllinoisIntroducedApril–May5,702
MichiganIntroducedApril–May4,347
WisconsinIntroducedApril–May3,842
ConnecticutIntroducedApril–May3,497
MinnesotaIntroducedApril–May3,178
IndianaIntroducedApril–May2,572
VermontIntroducedMay–June2,258
KentuckyIntroducedMarch–May1,648
MissouriIntroducedMarch–May1,590
IowaIntroducedApril–May1,283
West VirginiaIntroducedApril–May1,258
KansasIntroducedApril–May805
New HampshireIntroducedMay–June626
DelawareIntroducedApril625
Rhode IslandIntroducedApril–May529
NebraskaIntroducedApril–May375

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
New York
Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New York. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Pennsylvania. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Massachusetts. MESA list
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Maryland. COMAR 08.03.08
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Ohio. OAC 1501:18-1-03
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Virginia. 2VAC5-320-10
Illinois
Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Illinois. IL E&T checklist 2025
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Michigan. R 299.1028
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Wisconsin. NR 27.03
Connecticut
Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Connecticut. CT E/T/SC list
Minnesota
Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Minnesota. Minn. R. 6134.0300
Indiana
No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Indiana.
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Kentucky. 400 KAR 3:040
Missouri
Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Missouri. 3 CSR 10-4.111
Iowa
Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Iowa. IAC 571-77.3
West Virginia
No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in West Virginia.
Kansas
No list Kansas's endangered and threatened list (K.A.R. 115-15-1) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's Kansas ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Kansas.
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New Hampshire. NH Ncr 312
Delaware
Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Delaware. DE rare plants 2024
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Rhode Island. RI rare plants 2016
Nebraska
Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Nebraska. 163 NAC 4-004
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “All parts of the plant, are edible. The roots smell like horse radish and can be cut up and used in soups and stews. Young leaves can be chopped and used in salads, sauces or pesto. The seeds can also be saved and used to season food.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records garlic mustard in 36 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

New York counties with USDA records: Albany, Bronx, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Greene, Kings, Madison, Monroe, Nassau, New York, Oneida, Onondaga, Orange, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester.

Pennsylvania counties with USDA records: Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Bucks, Butler, Centre, Chester, Clarion, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lehigh, Luzerne, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Philadelphia, Pike, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington, Westmoreland, York.

Massachusetts counties with USDA records: Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester.

More New York flowers

Sources